Saab to conduct MLU on Sweden’s Gotland-class submarine HMS Halland

HMS Halland is the third and last submarine in the class to undergo an extensive upgradation.

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded a mid-life upgrade (MLU) contract to Saab for the Gotland-class submarine, HMS Halland.

The total value of MLU contract is approximately $116.75m (SEK1.1bn).

Under this upgrade project, Saab will carry out modernisation and modification works on the Swedish Navy’s third HMS Halland at its shipyard in Sweden.

The submarine’s existing combat system will also undergo an overhaul.

Saab Kockums business area head Lars Tossman said: “This contract shows that an extensive mid-life upgrade is a reliable, cost- and time-efficient solution for the Swedish Navy to receive essential new capabilities.

“It is also a proof point of Saab’s commitment to provide Sweden with cutting-edge underwater technology.”

Built between 1990 and 1997, the Swedish Navy’s Gotland-class (Type A19) fleet consists of three submarines, namely HMS Gotland, HMS Uppland and HMS Halland.

Equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), the vessels are designed to conduct a wide range of maritime missions including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance, mine-laying tasks and other special operations.

The first two submarines of the class have already gone through the MLU programme.